Al Horford was the big winner in NBA Twitter’s reaction to Thunder-Celtics trade
By Josh Hill

Reactions poured in over the big Celtics-Thunder Kemba Walker trade, and both Al Horford and Sam Presti are the talk of NBA Twitter
Brad Stevens and the Celtics didn’t waste much time getting started on an NBA offseason plan. Boston traded Kemba Walker on Friday to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that was way too big and deep for all of us to try to unpack that early in the morning.
Among the moving pieces in the package that are worth talking about:
- Kemba Walker is gone
- Al Horford has made a stunning return to Boston
- The Celtics saved money and can now add a third star a lot easier
- Sam Presti is back on his B.S.
It’s hard to rank which of those things is the most impressive thing about this deal, as it’s truly the type of #content we all strive for yet rarely see.
Presti has made a career out of making Oklahoma City a pit stop before a star is traded for a first round pick (and usually another star who is then traded for another first round pick). It’s like the infamous Process in Philly, except Presti has it on repeat.
The Thunder traded Melo and a first for Dennis Schroder and then traded Schroder for Danny Green and a first and then traded Danny Green for Horford and a first and then traded Horford for Kemba and a first
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 18, 2021
For basically trading an expiring contract Dennis Schroder and Moses Brown, The Thunder have now got:
— Karan (@karanjn2) June 18, 2021
Kemba Walker
Theo Maledon
#16 pick in the 2021 Draft
Top 6 protected 2025 First Round pick
2025 Second Round Pick
Aside from the Presti element at play, the reactions to everything in the Celtics-Thunder trade were golden.
Al Horford trade back to Celtics had everyone losing their minds
For starters, Al Horford appeared to be a big winner.
every move the Thunder make ends up with them getting yet another first-round draft pick and every move the Celtics make somehow ends up with them getting yet another Al Horford
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) June 18, 2021
Al Horford showing up in the Celtics facility pic.twitter.com/X4hqut7oHo
— 💜💛 (@Lakers24ever18) June 18, 2021
Al Horford had a bounce back year in OKC before they sent him home for winning too much btw
— Cousin Steez (@AndrewDoxy) June 18, 2021
Horford returning to Boston seems to be the most universally liked part of the deal. The star big man bounced back with the Thunder after a rough stint following his exit from Boston, but has returned to not only bring a veteran presence to a locker room that will have a new head coach, but allows the Celtics to have options when it comes to what they do with their moves in free agency.
The Kemba Walker contract was a big talking point
Kemba Walker went from Celtics fans saying “he’s just as good as Kyrie” to “thank GOD we got rid of that contract” in 2 years
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) June 18, 2021
Life comes at you with the quickness
So the Celtics decided Al Horford wanted too much money, used that money on Kemba Walker and now are trading Walker for the Horford contract they could have had all along, but thought was too much money?
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) June 18, 2021
Kemba Walker didn't sign a bad contract (versus, say, Gordon Hayward's contract in Charlotte). He signed what became a bad contract because he couldn't stay healthy. Don't turn this into "#Celtics never should've signed Walker in the first place!" stupidity. Just didn't work out.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) June 18, 2021
When Kemba Walker and Al Horford signed as free agents in 2019, some thought tampering had occurred with the Celtics & 76ers signing them. Two years later, the Celtics give up a 1st round pick to move Walker's contract while Horford is on to his 3rd team. From coveted to exiled. https://t.co/mSh7BpVreE
— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) June 18, 2021
And of course, how can we have reactions about a Sam Presti-involved trade without kicking back and enjoying everyone look on in awe as he collects more first-round picks like Seinfeld collects vintage cars.
The NBA vs. Sam Presti pic.twitter.com/buF4SLgr57
— Alex Freeman (@Afree1121) June 18, 2021
Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City Thunder after Kemba trade pic.twitter.com/cTKHagwbgk
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) June 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/claxstan/status/1405888207481360390?s=21
Kanter into Melo
— Tucker (@SportingLogical) June 18, 2021
Melo and a pick into Schroder
Schroder into Green and a pick
Green into Horford and a pick
Horford into Kemba and a pick
________________________________
Russ into CP3 and picks
CP3 into picks
-Sam Presti pic.twitter.com/3NezeygHP9
Presti needs to eventually turn all of this into wins, which has yet to happen for the Thunder. But if nothing else the man has a brand and he’ll be damned if he’s not going to stick to it at every opportunity to do so.